United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SHERMAN, Texas – A Lubbock man has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for trafficking drugs through the Eastern District of Texas, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.

Mark Anthony Calzadias, 48, pleaded guilty on Dec. 20, 2021, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 420 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant.

According to information presented in court, between 2017 and 2018, seven incidents associated with the Calzadias Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) resulted in the seizure of 10 kilograms of cocaine and $1,664,620 in U.S. currency. A joint investigation revealed that Mark Anthony Calzadias, Michael Calzadias, and Thomas Calzadias were the main sources of supply for the drugs, including cocaine, which were imported from Mexico, and transported from the Rio Grande Valley through the Eastern District of Texas to St. Louis, Missouri; Danville, Virginia; Greenville, South Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Fort Meyers, Florida; and other areas in the United States. Over the course of the conspiracy, the Calzadias DTO was responsible for the transportation of over 1,000 kilograms of cocaine.  The investigation resulted in the seizure of $1.6 million in U.S. Currency.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ernest Gonzalez.